Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities Weekly Tip #7: Create a non-combustible zone

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is presenting their fifth "Tip of the Week," an ongoing series for the public since they are unable to perform their normal community outreach services. All tips are ways people can prepare for wildfire while staying at home. They will be providing three more tips.

This Week's Tip #7: Create a non-combustible zone

The first 5 feet adjacent to your home is known as the non-combustible zone. As the name suggests, it should contain no combustible materials that could ignite your home during a wildfire.

Now that the snow has melted, it's time to start maintaining this zone and implementing projects that increase the chance of your home surviving a wildfire.

Routine Maintenance

To start, remove combustible materials:

❑ Fallen leaves and pine needles
❑ Unwanted weeds
❑ Dead branches
❑ Firewood

Landscaping

If you have the time and budget, remove and replace combustible landscaping.

Avoid:

ⓧ Wood, bark, or rubber mulches
ⓧ Wood landscape timbers or boards
ⓧ Wood trellises
ⓧ Combustible shrubs and trees*
ⓧ Shrubs under first-story windows, under soffit vents, in front of foundation vents, or in corners

Instead, try:

✓ Gravel, rock, or brick
✓ Irrigated lawn
✓ Metal trellises
✓ Low-growing, irrigated herbaceous plants under 18 inches**
*Combustible shrubs include native plants (big sagebrush, bitterbrush, greenleaf manzanita, snowbrush, rabbitbrush, huckleberry oak, pine and fir) and ornamental plants (juniper, mugo pine, arborvitae, scotch broom and large exotic grasses).

**Low-growing, irrigated herbaceous plants recommended for the Lake Tahoe Basin include lawn, clover, flowers, some ground covers and succulents.

Learn more about managing native plants here.

Previous Tips

#1 - Create a Go-Bag
#2 - Make a Family Evacuation Plan
#3 - Talking to kids about wildfire
#4 - Make a home inventory list#5 - Identify your home's ember vulnerabilities
#6 - Create a home hardening plan

Learn more about preparing for wildfire - https://www.tahoelivingwithfire.com/.